402 Western Live-stock Management 
FEEDING THE WEANLINGS 
If the suckling pigs are induced to eat grain as early as 
possible and have all they can consume, weaning brings 
about little hardship. If two litters a year are to be 
produced, ten weeks is as long as the pigs may be allowed 
to suck, and at this age should have had five weeks in 
which to become accustomed to artificial feed. If any 
change from the ration on which the suckling pigs were 
started must be made, it had best be done gradually and 
before the pigs are weaned. In any event the change 
must be brought about carefully to avoid digestive trouble, 
waste, and pot-belly. The digestive tract of a small pig 
is larger in proportion to his body than when he grows 
older. Hence it is possible at this time to over-feed a pig; 
but the more common mistake is under-feeding. Another 
illness which may result from over-eating is impaired effi- 
ciency of the entire system, so that the gains in later 
life are secured at greater cost than should be. Pot- 
bellies result from the too long continued use of very 
bulky or watery feeds. Little trouble of this kind, how- 
ever, is likely to result from the feeding during the first 
seven weeks, but where pigs suckle for as much as three 
months, such troubles are not unusual. 
With little pigs both before and after weaning, care 
must be taken that no feed be left in their troughs to 
become sour, or scours will almost surely result. There- 
fore but little should be given them and what is left re- 
moved and given to their dams. Then their trough 
should be thoroughly cleaned, and if possible, with the very 
youngest pigs, scalded and set up in the sun. At all 
events the trough must be left clean, and should be so 
when feed is put into it again. A good start makes 
